Punch press



Oct. 7, 1941. w. s. sAWLE 2,258,070

PUNCH .PRESS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 2 Sheeizs-Sheet l lll//// W27 Wil l//lllllll/IllIl/ll/lllllllllI//l/l/l// y ct. 7, 1941." W, s sAwLE PUNCH PRESS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 2 ISheets-Shec-zI 2 MSE@ :taf

1.7/ 5 SawZe/ Patented Oct. 7,n 1941 UNITED sTATEsLPATENT OFFICE Application January z, 1940, serial No. 311,975l

2 Claims. (Cl. 164-19) The present invention relates generally to presses for punching similarly` shaped articles from sheet stock. o More particularly the invention relates to that type of punch press which is actuated by power and as its principal or primary parts comprises;`

(l) A supporting structure; j

(2) A platen which is carried by the supporting structure and is adapted-to have the sheet stockA from which thearticles are to be punched fed intermittently and in a rectilinear course thereover; c Y

(3) A shank equipped holder which is mounted on the supporting structure above the platen to Y,

move in a reciprocating manner to and from the platen; and

(4) A hollow die which is xed to the holder andoperates in response to successive movements of the holder toward the platen and' in connection with co-ordinated intermittent feed strokes of the stock successively to penetrate the stock and cut thedesired articles therefrom.

One objectv of the invention is to provide a punch press of thistype .which is generally an 2 hollow or interior of the die a slot for permitting thediepunched articles to pass into it trom the die.

Anotherobject of the inventionis to provide a punch pressof the last mentioned character 'in which the hollow box-like holder for the ldie has associated therewith a track for receiving the articles from the holder interior and in addition simple and novel means for deecting th articles fromthe slot onto the track. s ...A further object of the invention is to` provide a punch press of the last mentioned' character in which Ythe track serves as an accumulating mediumfor the punched articles and is so arranged that the dellecting means operates tomaintain the punched articles in row form thereon.

A still iurther'object of the invention is to provide a punch press which eiectively and eiliciently fullls its intended purpose and is so constructed and designed that it may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost; Other objectsof the invention and the various advantagesV and characteristics of the present punch press will be' apparent from a consideration of the followingdetailed description.`

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. i

In the drawings which accompany and form a partof this specification or disclosure and in whichv like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts. throughout the several views:

Figure l is a side view of a punch press embodying the invention, parts of the box-like die holder being broken away and shown in section in order better to illustrate the design, position and mode of operation of the track for the punchedoarticles;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 and illustrating thecross vsectional design of-the box-like holder andthe manner in whichthe track is attached and supported with respect to the holder;

Figure 3 vis an enlarged transversesection taken on thev line 3-3 of Figure 1 and disclosing in detail the manner in which the punched articles are carried-byV the track;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken onpthe line 4--4 of Figure 1 and illustrating the arrangement, shape anddesign of the hollow die for punching 'the articles from the sheet stock in response to movement of thef holder toward the platen; o f

Figure 5 visan enlargedsection taken on the line 5-5 of: Figure 2. and showing the manner in which the` dei'lecting means onr the box-like holder operates to dect the punched articles from vtheholder solctonto the track; andV Figure 6 is alfragmentary end View, showing the die and holder intheir raised position with respect to the platen.

iro

The punch press which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is primarily designed and adapted to cut similarly shaped arcuate gasket forming pieces n from sheet stock s of` ber or composition material and comprises a supporting structure 1, aplaten 8, a die holder 9 and a die I0. Thevsupporting structure 1 is of conventional or standard'design and is yadapted to rest upon the floor of the establishment in which the press is used. It is Aformedv of castings and other structural pieces, asillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and includes asa part thereof a horizontally extending bed plate l I. This plate extends horizontally and serves as a support for the platen 8. vThe latter is xedly cr rigidly secured to the top face' of the bed plate I I by bolts I2 and embodies a flat top face I3 over which the sheet stock s is adapted to be fed in an intermittent manner. Preferably the sheet stock is fed manually although if desired automatic feed means operating in synchronism with the die holder and die, may be employed. It is contemplated that the stock be fd over or across the top face I3 of the platen in a rectilinear course.

The die holder 9 is positioned over the platen 8 and carries the die I0, as hereinafter described. It is of box-like design and comprises a bottom wall I4, a top wall I5 and a pair of end walls I6. The end walls extend between, and are suitably connected to, the end portions of the bottom and top walls and serve to hold the last mentioned walls in vertically spaced relation. The sides of the holder 9 are open. The top wall I5 embodiesr on the central portion thereof an upstanding shank I1 which is clamped within a socket in a head I3 and is polygonal in cross section so as to prevent turning of the holder 9 with respect to the head. The head is slidably mounted with respect to the supporting structure 'I so that it is shiftable by suitable operator-controlled power-actuated mechanism (not shown) to and from the platen 8 on the bed plate I I.

The die I0 is hollow and has anopen bottom and an open top. It fits against and rextends downwardly from the bottom face of the bottom wall I4 of the box-like die holder 9 and consists of an inner wall I9 an outer wall 20 and a pair oi end walls 2I. The inner and outer walls are held in laterally spaced relation by the lend walls and are of such curvature or shape that the interior of the die corresponds in shape to the gasket pieces to be punched from the sheet stock s. lThe outer lower portions of the inner, outer and end walls of the die are so beveled or angledl with respect to the inner lower portions that the bottom of the die is in the form of a knife or cutting edge 22. This edge corresponds in shape to the die interior. The die is held in connected or fixed relation with the box-like holder 9 by way of a pair of bolts 23. The latter extend upwardly through a pair of apertured lugs 24 on the outer wall 20 of the,Y

die and project into internally threaded sockets in the bottom wall I4 of the die holder. When the die holder is lowered in 'connection withI downward movement of the head I8 the' die is lowered conjointly therewith and the edge 2-2 penetrates the subjacent portion of the stock s and cuts from the stock an arcuate gasket forming piece p. The down stroke of the die holder is such that at the end of Vsuch stroke the edge 22 of the die is in abutting relation with the top face I3 of the platen 8. The outer wall 20 of the die embodies inwardly of its ends, a pair of inset or instruck portions 25. 'Ihese portions are so shaped that they form notches p1 in the convex margins of the gasket forming pieces p. The gasket pieces as they are out by the die from the sheet stock s, to move upwards. In order to permit the pieces p to travel unrestrictedly through the die thebottom wall I4 of the die holder 9 is provided with an arcuate slot 26. This slot is shaped conformably to, and is in accurate registry with, the interior of the die I0. The gasket forming pieces p, after travelling or moving upwardly through the die interior, move through the slot 26 into the interior ofthe die holder 9, as shown in Figure 5. The portion ofthe die holder bottom wall I4 which defines the inner curved face of the slot 26 is reinforced against bending or distortion by a pair of struts 2T. The latter are positioned in laterally spaced relation and extend between, and are secured to, the bottom and top Walls I4 and I5 of the die holder 9. By providing the slot 26 in the bottom wall I4 and having the die holder of box-like design the cut gasket forming pieces p are permitted to travel freely through the die and into the die holder interior.

In addition to the` supporting structure 1, the platen 8, the die holder 9 and the die I0, the press comprises a track 28 for carrying the cut gasket forming pieces p away from the die holder 9 and holding or supporting the cut pieces in such manner that they are in stacked relation and hence may be readily inspected to determine whether defects are present. The track 28 consists of a pair of laterally spaced inclined rods 29 which are located at one side of the die holder 9 and are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the notches p1 in the gasket forming pieces p. 'I'he lower ends of the rods are located in opposed relation with the struts 2'I and have the extremities thereof bent ydownwards and secured in fixed relation with the portions of the die holder bottom wall which overlie the instruck portions 25 of the outerlwall 20 of the die and encounter the notches p1 in the gasket forming pieces p as the pieces move or travel upwards in the slot 26. The outer ends of the rods 29 are supported and held against downward ilexure or bending by a pair of inclined braces 30. These braces underlie the rods 29 constituting the track 28 and have the lower ends thereof secured by bolts 3I to the under or bottom face of the die holder bottom wall I4. The upper ends of the braces have holes 32 therein through which the upper or outer ends of the rods 29 project. Said ends of thev rods are externally threaded and carry inner and outer nuts 33 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are arranged in straddled relation with the upper ends of the braces 30 and maintain the rods and braces in fixed or rigidrelation. The rods, except for the lower and upper ends thereof, are straight. The cut gasket forming pieces p as they emerge from the top portion of the slot -26 in the die holder bottom wall I4 are urged into contact or lseated relation with the track forming rods 29 by a deflector 34 andare caused by this deflector to travel around thebent portions of the lower ends of the rods. The pieces, as the result of the action of the deflector 34 in connection with upward feed thereof, due to successive cutting of additional pieces by the die I0, move upwards along the rods and with the latter in seated relation with the notches p1. The deector 34, as shown in the drawings, is formed of an elongated strip of metal and has one end thereof bolted or otherwise xedly secured to the portion of the die holder bottom wall I4 which defines the central inner part of the slot 26. It is positioned between the struts 21 and is arranged so that the central portion and upper end thereof overlie the slot 26. Such portion and end of the deector 34 are shaped and positioned as shown in Figure 5. The central portion iscurved in the direction of, and conformable to, the bent portions of the lower ends of the track forming rods 29 and is positioned and arranged so that it engages the inner central portions of the cut pieces p as they emerge from the slot 26 and places Vsuch portions under such pressure that the pieces 'are caused toY travel around andV at right angles? to thefben't lower ends of the rods, as shown-"in Figure 5. The upper end of the de'ector 34 for the: most part is straight and is `parallel to? the adjacentV straight portions of thel rods 29. It pro-jects outs-idey of the die holder and? serves to maintain the piecesy at right angles to the-rods directly after theymove or travel around the bent lower end portions of' the rods. As the result of the action of the deflector 34 the cut-gasket forming pieces p are first caused' to travel and swing around the bent lower end portions of 'the track forming rods afterl emergingu from the slot' 26 andthen rideY upwardsifn stacked relation on the straight portions `or parts of the rods.- `When the pieces travel upwards on` the trackforming rods` their ends projectup'-4 wardly.A Tol maintain the pieces in seated relation with the rods two guide strips 35 are provided. These strips overlie, and are upwardly inclined in conformity to the rods 29, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. They are adapted to engage the inner end portions of the pieces p, as shown in Figure 3, and have the lower ends thereof bolted or otherwise xedly secured to the top face of the bottom wall I4 of the die holder 9. The upper ends of the strips 35 are cross connected by way of a pair of U-shaped loops 36 and a cross piece 31. The cross piece is riveted to, and extends between, the upper ends of the braces 30 and serves to hold the braces as well as the track forming rods 29 against lateral flexure. The loops 36 extend laterally with respect to the guide strips 35 and are connected to, and extend between, the ends of the cross piece 37 and the upper ends of the strips 35. They are U-shaped in design and permit the cut gasket forming pieces p to be removed from the tracky after they reach the upper end of the rods 29. 'Ihe pieces travel upwardly on the tracks in abutting relation and are so held or retained that a predetermined number may be removed from the track by any suitable rack or removing tool and then taped together for shipping purposes.

Assuming that the die holder and die are being moved continuously to and from the platen 8 and the sheet stock s is being intermittently fed over or across the platen the operation of the press is as follows:

On each down stroke of the holder and die the cutting edge 22 of the die penetrates the stock and punches out a gasket forming piece p. During successive down strokes of the die the cut pieces p move upwards through the interior of the die and then travel through the slot 26 in the bottom wall I4 of the box-like die holder 9. As the pieces emerge from the top of the slot the center portions thereof encounter the curved intermediate portion of the deflector 34. Such portion of the deector, as hereinbefore pointed out, urges the pieces into seated relation with the curved lower ends of the track forming rods 29 and exerts such pressure that the pieces are caused to travel or move around and at right angles to such ends of the rods. After leaving the bent lower portions of the rods the pieces p travel in abutting relation toward the upper end of the track 28 and are maintained in seated relation with the rods by the guide strips 35. When the pieces reach the upper end of the track they may be removed either one at a time or in group form. By reason of the fact that the notches p1 of the cut gasketl f vpieces are in seated relationfwlth the*r track forming', rodsjli4 during travel oi* the pieces on the rodsj theA pieces fare 'effectively and efficiently,` held against sidewise or' lateral displacement.l y l K Theherein described punch press is efficient in; operation and may be manufactured at a comparatively low costY due to the ,simplicity of the design. By reason of the Afact that vthe press includes the track 28 and the deflector 34' it. has* provisionY for .ready and continuous discharge ofthe cut piecesV p. Dueto the construction and design` of the track the cut l'aiec'es be. readily ,inspected while traversing the track and in addition maybe, removed. inlgroup form. A y Whereas the punch' press has been described as being designed andadapted` primarily to cut arcuate gasket forming pieces p` from fiber sheet stock it is to be understood that it may be used to cut other arcuate articles from stock other than fiber or gasket forming material.

It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these .may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a punch press comprising a platen adapted to have sheet stock fed intermittently thereacross, aY box-like die holder mounted over, and to move to and from, the platen and having a bottom wall and an open side, and an arcuate hollow die on the under side of said bottom wall of the holder adapted and shaped to cut from the stock arcuate articles with pairs of notches in the outer margins thereof in response to successive movements of the holder toward the platen and intermittent feed of the stock and having the interior thereof in communication with the holder interior by way of a correspondingly shaped arcuate slot in said bottom wall so that the cut articles may pass from the die interior into the holder interior, of a pair of inclined parallel laterally spaced track-forming rods Vdisposed adjacent, and extending through, said open side of the holder, having the lower ends thereof bent downwards and secured to the portion of the holder bottom wall that defines the outer curved portion of the slot, and adapted to have the articles emerging from said slot travel therealong with the notches in seated relation therewith, and a strip type' deiiector disposed in the holder between the lower ends of the rods but on the other or inner side of the slot. curved in the direction of the lower ends of the rods, and shaped and arranged so that it engages the central portions of the inner margins of the cut articles emerging from the slot, and operates to cause such articles first to travel around and at right angles to the bent lower ends of the rods and then along the rods at right angles thereto.

2. The combination with a punch press comprising a platen adapted to have sheet stock fed intermittently thereacrcss, a box-like die holder mounted over, and to move to and from, the platen and having a bottom wall and an open side, and an arcuate hollow die on the under side of said bottom wall of the holder adapted and shaped to cut from the stock arcuatearticles withpairs of notches in the outer margins thereof in response to successive movements ofthe holder toward the platen and intermittent feed of the stock and having the interior thereof in communication with the holder interior by way of a correspondingly shaped arcuate slot in said ybottom wall so that the cut articles may pass from the die interior into the holder interior, of a pair of inclined parallel laterally spaced track-forming rods disposed adjacent, and extending through, saidy open rside of the holder, having the lower end thereof bent downwards and secured to the portion of the holder bottom wall that defines the outer curved portion of the slot, and adapted to have the articles emerging from said slot travel therealong with the notches in seatedrelation therewith, a strip type deector disposed` in the holder between the lower ends of the rods but on the other or inner side of the slot, curved in the direction of the lower ends of the rods, and shapedand arranged so that it engages the central portions of the inner margins of the cut articles emerging from the slot, and operates to cause sucharticles first to travel around and at right angles to the bent lower ends of the rods land then along the rods at right angles thereto, and a pair of inclined parallel laterally spaced guide rstrips overhanging, and connected to move with, the rods, having the lower ends thereof connected to the holder and their upper ends connected by opposed laterally extending loop-like elements to the upper ends of the rods, and serving to hold on said rods the articles deflected by the deector.

` WILLIAM S. SAWLE. 

